Welcome to our school.

It is a real privilege to be the Headteacher of Gateford Park and to lead a school and community that mean so much to me. I have been part of Gateford Park for 20 years, and over that time the school has become a very special part of my life. I have had the privilege of teaching generations of children, and one of the loveliest parts of being here for so long is now welcoming and teaching the children of former pupils. There is something incredibly special about seeing families return to Gateford Park and knowing that they have chosen us for the next generation too.

Because of that history, becoming Headteacher feels particularly meaningful to me. I know our children, our families and our staff, and I am incredibly proud to now have the opportunity to lead us into the next chapter.

For me, a great school is about much more than results. Of course, I want every child at Gateford Park to achieve highly and to leave us with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for the future, but I also want them to look back on their primary school years and remember feeling happy, safe, valued and loved.

Relationships sit at the heart of everything we do. I believe children learn best when they feel that they belong, when the adults around them know them well and when they know that someone is always in their corner. When children arrive at Gateford Park each day, I want them to be greeted by name. I want them to feel recognised, welcomed and known, because this is their school and they belong here.

I want Gateford Park to be a place where every child is noticed, every child is encouraged and every child has the opportunity to thrive.

I am also a parent to two children, and that perspective is always with me when I make decisions about our school. I often ask myself, “What would I want for my own children?” I would want them to be known, cared for, challenged, encouraged and supported by adults who genuinely want the best for them – and that is what I want for every child at Gateford Park. I also know that parenting is not always easy. I want our parents and carers to feel that school is alongside them: a place where they can talk openly, ask for help, share worries and celebrate successes, knowing that they will be listened to and supported.

Our PARK values – Perseverance, Aspiration, Respect and Kindness – are not simply words displayed around our school. They represent the kind of people we want our children to become and the kind of community we want to build together. Kindness is particularly important to me. Small acts of kindness, strong relationships and genuine care for one another are what turn a school into a community.

I am ambitious for our children and for our school. I want our pupils to believe that there are no limits to what they can achieve. Alongside a strong education, we want to give them rich experiences, opportunities to discover their talents and the confidence to try new things. We want them to leave Gateford Park curious about the world, proud of who they are and ready for whatever comes next.

One of the things I love most about Gateford Park is our sense of community. A school should never feel separate from the families and neighbourhood it serves. I want our families to feel welcome and our children to understand that they belong to something bigger than themselves. Working together with parents, carers, governors, local organisations and our wider community is an important part of the future we are building.

There is a great deal to be proud of at Gateford Park, but we will never stand still. We will continue to listen, reflect, improve and have high expectations of ourselves because our children deserve the very best that we can give them.

Most importantly, I want Gateford Park to be a school where children love coming each morning, where staff are proud to work and where families feel proud to belong.

With kindness we care, with respect we grow and with perseverance we succeed.

I am incredibly excited about the future of Gateford Park and very proud to be leading our school on the journey ahead.

Mrs Joanna Green
Headteacher